Waterfall Library is cool again!

WATERFALL library staff and patrons can now enjoy the relief of air conditioning thanks to the efforts of library patron, Margaret Dormer and Ward 9 Councillor, Tex Collins.

Dormer, who is an avid reader and regular patron of the Waterfall Library, found the lack of air conditioning in the library almost unbearable and after feeling quite ill from the intense heat in the library decided to find out what the problem was.

“I got involved because I was sick and tired of walking into the library and nearly fainting from the heat in there. I asked the staff what was happening and was told the airconditioning units had been stolen. I decided to do my civic duty and find out what was happening. I didn’t get too far so decided to get Tex involved. The rest, as they say, is history.”

The air conditioning units were stolen over a year ago and according to regulations a claim should have been submitted to the Insurance department within 30 days which was never done. The claim was only submitted 12 months later and was therefore denied.

Tex Collins said, “Is it any wonder that it was refused. Andile Memela (Manager for Western Region Libraries) offered a really weak excuse as to why the claim was refused but in reality it amounts to nothing more than shoddy and desultory action on the part of those responsible within his department. It shows a lack of planning and inertia which led to the suffering of the librarians and patrons.”

The skylights in the roof of the library compounded the problem by letting through lots of heat and causing the library to feel like a sauna. Mobile fans did little more than circulate the stifling air. Staff were expected to work in these conditions with little regard for the health risks.

Repeated emails between Margaret, Tex and those responsible for the library finally resulted in three new air cons being mounted on the roof of the library in steel cages to lessen the chance of theft occurring again.

The aircon has made the life of the staff and patrons much more pleasurable. “We appreciate the air conditioning, please keep it going” wrote one patron in the patron’s response book.

A staff member said it had made a big difference and that people were now coming to the library and students were able to study. “It is wonderful to work here now and people are not running out because of the heat.”

Collins says a lot of the credit goes to Dormer. “She made a lot of effort and is a real friend to the Library, ” said Collins.

Collins is keen to get other improvements made to the Waterfall Library – the skylights need to be sorted out, the grass has become overgrown in the recreational area, there is a sharp edge of the slide in the children’s playground, the carpets are old, tatty and held down with masking tape and the toilets need attention.

“The library in Waterfall is a mess and appears to have been completely forgotten. The carpets are a disgrace and are being held down by masking tape. In fact the entire building needs attention as the small activities room and toilets are also a disgrace,” said Collins.

Andile Memela and Guy Redman (Deputy Head of Libraries & Heritage) were emailed for their responses but failed to respond.